Planting a Perfect Summer at Iowa Speedway

Planting a Perfect Summer at Iowa Speedway

Classic Racing Times, Ted Nugent and annual corn feed part of second high-powered weekend of racing

NEWTON, Iowa (July 3, 2018) – Building on the memories of Iowa Speedway’s popular Wide Opening Weekend, race fans will see plenty of their favorite activities and games return for a second weekend of all-day entertainment. Captivating fan competitions, a signature food item and live music will provide another weekend to remember at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet.”

Tickets for the ARCA Racing Series Fans with Benefits 150 and the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 can be purchased at www.iowaspeedway.com or by calling 866.787.8946.

Here’s a list of what race fans can expect during Iowa Speedway’s agriculture themed weekend:

Corn Feed presented by Iowa Corn and Chevrolet

For the fifth consecutive year, fans can enjoy a free ear of sweet corn prior to the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300, courtesy of Iowa Corn and Chevrolet. Iowa Corn returns as the title sponsor of the INDYCAR race at Iowa Speedway for the 12th consecutive year, making it the second longest running partnership in the series.

Fans are invited to enjoy this summer treat in the Chevrolet display on Sunday, July 8, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT.

Classic Racing Times “Classic Indycars at Iowa Speedway”

This Sunday, the Classic Racing Times will present “Classic Indycars at Iowa” as part of Verizon IndyCar Series weekend. When Iowa Speedway hosts the 12th running of the Iowa Corn 300 on July 8, the cars of the premier open-wheel racing series in North America will be joined by a representative sampling of their ancestors. The addition of “Classic Indycars at Iowa” to the Iowa Corn 300 weekend will feature two on-track sessions ahead of some the best INDYCAR racing of the season.

Featured cars are expected to include the No. 64 Gilmore Brawner/McGee Scorpion driven by Art Pollard in the 1971 Indy 500, and a scrupulously-detailed reproduction of the last front-engine car to win at Indianapolis, A.J. Foyt’s 1964 Sheraton-Thompson Special No. 1. Also, on display will be the No. 16 1979 Leader Card Watson Champ Car built by A.J. Watson. Watson was known as the “Wizard of Indy” where cars he built dominated from the mid-’50s through the mid-’60s.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

The community is invited to join the race to help save lives with Verizon IndyCar Series driver and blood recipient James Hinchcliffe at a special American Red Cross James Hinchcliffe Challenge Blood Drive presented by IndyCar Cares, Iowa Speedway Cares and the Verizon IndyCar Series. The event is Friday, July 6, from 1 to 7 p.m. CT at the Newton Club at Iowa Speedway with the goal to collect 60 blood donations. Hinchcliffe is expected to stop by the blood drive at 1:00 p.m. CT.

The blood drive will take place during the live broadcast of the KIX 101.1 Horsepower Hour. The stars of the Verizon IndyCar Series will join host Todd Steinkamp for a candid preview of the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300.

Those who give blood at this event will receive a free Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. The first one hundred donors will also receive one Paddock Pass for the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300.

NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series

The fourth annual NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series will take center stage once again this weekend. Ultimate guitar-shredding showman, Ted Nugent, will keep fans cheering following the conclusion of the ARCA Racing Series Fans with Benefits 150. Nugent will rock the Party Pavilion, overlooking Turn 4, following Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane activities on July 7.

Signature Food

Iowa Speedway’s 2018 signature food item embraces all things Iowa. Iowa Speedway and Americrown Service Corporation – the leader in major motorsports catering and concessions – will continue to showcase an evolving food scene with a new menu item that will be unveiled this weekend. The baCORNator is a tasteful expression of sweet corn on the cob wrapped in crispy bacon, sprinkled with Cajun seasoning and topped with sour cream. Take a pit stop at the Carbureatery concession stand located south of the Newton Club, the Qualifryer concession stand located on the Turn 1 side of the concourse, or License to Grille concession stand located on the Turn 4 side of the concourse to try out this limited-edition food item.

Fan Competitions and Activities

Competition isn’t limited to the on-track action at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet”, fans will have the opportunity to win big at Iowa Speedway too. An Oversized Pong Tournament will take place next to the Barefoot Bar Tent in Turn 4 on Saturday, July 7. The always popular Bags Tournament will make its weekend return on Sunday, July 8.

Other activities for INDYCAR Weekend include; a mini basketball court, Karaoke in the Bar Tent on Saturday, July 7, and a Dueling Pianos performance in the Bar Tent on July 8. Following the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 on Sunday, July 10, Andy Anderson and Mike Leeds will return to Iowa Speedway for another dueling pianos performance. Performing in the Turn 4 bar tent, this fan-favorite brings a high-energy and engaging dueling piano routine to the post-race environment. They will incorporate hilarious spontaneity, crowd-pleasing antics, and a musical camaraderie that delivers a one-of-a-kind, unique show to close out the race weekend.

Youth Ticketing Program

Last season, NASCAR launched an industry-wide initiative granting free Single Event Tickets for fans aged 12 and under (with a ticketed parent) to all NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. Iowa Speedway extended this offer to all six event days and is pleased to bring this initiative back for the 2018 season.

Please note that free Youth Tickets are for Grandstand seats only, and not offered in the Newton Club, Suite Tower, or Terrace Camping. To purchase Youth Tickets, please call or visit the Iowa Speedway Box Office; on race days, fans may also visit Ticket Booths 1 and 2. Children must be present during purchase, and Iowa Speedway Staff must validate the full-price purchase of an adult ticket for every two Youth Tickets sold. For more information on Youth Tickets, call the Iowa Speedway Box Office at 866.787.8946.

Youth Activities & Tickets

Iowa Speedway is always striving to create unique experiences for every member of the family. Founded in 2015, the speedway will offer special youth-only VIP opportunities to further promote the science of racing and emphasize the importance of cultivating young fans through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) based activities.

Crash Course presented by U.S. Cellular – Located in Turn 1 of the concourse, Crash Course is the race day activation hub for kids. Terms like “downforce” and “drag” may be difficult to explain even to adults, but hands-on experiments in Crash Course will help decipher the physics behind racing for fans of all ages.

Kids Q&A – On Sunday July 8, Iowa Speedway will host a Q&A session between an INDYCAR driver and the sport’s youngest fans. The Kids Q&A will take place at the Crash Course presented by U.S. Cellular display at 10:30 a.m. CT. Parents are also invited to attend. Like working press, no autographs of drivers will be allowed, but lifelong memories will be created.

INDYCAR / Indy Lights Driver Autograph Sessions

On Saturday July 7, fans will have the opportunity to get autographs from their favorite drivers. All autograph sessions will take place at the Verizon IndyCar Series Fan Village, located on the Midway. Indy Lights drivers will be signing autographs starting at 11:45 a.m. CT. The stars of the Verizon IndyCar Series will be available for autographs beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT.

Connect with Us

Back again this year, fans are encouraged to use #ThisIsMySpeedway on social media to capture and share their favorite moments from the weekend. For your chance to be featured on Iowa Speedway’s social media channels, share your photos throughout the weekend using #FWB150 (Saturday, July 7) and #IowaCorn300 (Sunday, July 8). To stay up to date on the latest news and happenings around the track, be sure to follow Iowa Speedway on Twitter, Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

About Iowa Speedway

Iowa Speedway, The Fastest Short Track on the Planet, is a state-of-the-art 7/8-mile asphalt paved tri-oval race track and motorsports facility located in Newton, Iowa. Our 2018 schedule includes two exciting race weekends: July 7-8 (ARCA Racing Series Fans With Benefits 150 and Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300) and July 27-28 (NASCAR K&N Pro Series Casey’s General Store 150 and NASCAR Xfinity Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by The Rasmussen Group). For tickets, call 1.866.787.8946. To learn more, visit www.IowaSpeedway.com, “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.